Brookings acquires Bee City USA affiliation

No Mow May is no more for Brookings residents. After two years, the City Council voted in February to do away with No Mow May. Don’t worry, though. Council members still care about pollinators, and they showed their support by voting unanimously for the city to become a Bee City USA affiliate.

The Bee City USA affiliate designation replaces the city’s voluntary No Mow May program, which sought to bring awareness to the importance of pollinators.

Residents should now follow the city’s vegetation management practices, which require that lawns, grasses and weeds be no taller than 15 inches.

“While No Mow May benefited pollinators, it had some drawbacks,” said Albert Patin, vice chair of the Brookings Sustainability Council. “In addition, current research shows there are alternative programs that could prove more beneficial for pollinators and their habitats.”

The council’s actions in February followed recommendations by the Sustainability Council.

“Our City Council understands the importance of sustaining pollinators, and we want to help our community become more pollinator-friendly,” said Mayor Oepke "Ope" Niemeyer. “We are grateful to the Sustainability Council for bringing the Bee City USA opportunity to our attention. We also appreciate the considerable time and effort Sustainability Council members invested to achieve this affiliation.”

Brookings joins about 445 other cities and campuses nationwide as an affiliate. In 2018, South Dakota State University became the first university campus in South Dakota to become a Bee Campus USA affiliate.

“Our designation as a Bee City reflects our commitment to creating pollinator-friendly habitats, protecting biodiversity, and fostering a sustainable environment that benefits both our community and future generations,” said Anthony Shanks, chair of the Sustainability Council. “We encourage residents to join our efforts by planting a pollinator-friendly garden, attending future events, and spreading awareness.”

The Sustainability Council meets monthly and invites all Brookings residents to offer their ideas for pollinator-friendly initiatives. “The more people and organizations are involved, the sooner pollinator declines will be reversed,” Shanks said.

Bee City USA’s mission is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators by providing healthy habitats free of insecticides and rich in a variety of native plants. Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of almost 90 percent of the world’s flowering plant species and one in every three bites of food people consume. For more information about Bee City USA, visit www.beecityusa.org.

For questions about the city’s Bee City USA involvement, contact Samantha Beckman, assistant to the city manager, at sbeckman@cityofbrookings-sd.gov.

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